The Tripper (2007)

36% of critics liked it
(14 reviews)
35% of users liked it
(6,386 ratings)

Actor-turned-director David Arquette co-scripted and directed this political horror feature concerning a group of friends who are stalked by a psychotic killer with a Ronald Reagan fixation during an outdoor music festival. Lukas Haas, Thomas Jane, Jason Mewes, Paul Reubens, Balthazar Getty, and… More Actor-turned-director David Arquette co-scripted and directed this political horror feature concerning a group of friends who are stalked by a psychotic killer with a Ronald Reagan fixation during an outdoor music festival. Lukas Haas, Thomas Jane, Jason Mewes, Paul Reubens, Balthazar Getty, and Jaime King star in a film that was co-written by Darkness Falls screenwriter Joe Harris. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 37 min.
Directed By: David Arquette
Written By: David Arquette, Joe Harris
Genres: Horror

In Theaters: Apr 20, 2007 Wide
On DVD: Oct 30, 2007
Studio: After Dark Films/Freestyle Releasing

Critic Reviews

Elizabeth Weitzman, New York Daily News
The rambling story attempts to turn the genre on its head, but it ends up giving in to every slasher cliché (Arquette himself plays a backwoods redneck). The acting ranges from abysmal to barely adequate.
Justin Chang, Variety
A mostly dull-blade exercise that offers little to think or scream about.
Kevin Carr, 7M Pictures
too many moments just didn't make sense or work in the slightest for somebody sober
Brian Holcomb, CinemaBlend.com
It's different, but is it any good? As another former President might say, "Depends on how you define 'good'."
James O'Ehley, Sci-Fi Movie Page
A serial killer wearing a Ronald Reagan mask is killing off hippies at what must be the most under-attended music festival ever . . .
Jeremy Knox, Film Threat
The first thirty minutes are quite good and the ending works very well, but there's an entire middle section which is badly paced and packed with filler.
Johnny Butane, Dread Central
Horror fans with a sense of humor will really enjoy this slice of gory goodness.
Brian Orndorf, eFilmCritic.com
Much like David Arquette's acting career, the film is often unbearable and rarely shows competence, but still remains an antagonistic curiosity that can't be easily denied.
, Reel.com
Wickedly funny.
Jay Antani, Boxoffice Magazine
Ineptly written by Arquette and Joe Harris, The Tripper is a carnival of cretins doing and saying one ass-headed thing after another.
Jeff Vice, Deseret News, Salt Lake City
It's sort of fun -- at least if you're someone who has a taste for gory slasher flicks.
Josh Larsen, Sun Publications (Chicago, IL)
Exhibit A for Courteney Cox if she does end up divorcing David Arquette...

Read all 12 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Cassandra M

Don't expect a great film, or even a good one; rip-offs galore and plenty of nonsense cut-away/scenes. But Ronald Reagen is a huge saving grace for this beermat script. If it weren't for the weird insert of this serial killer I think I would've been pretty saddened at… More
Don't expect a great film, or even a good one; rip-offs galore and plenty of nonsense cut-away/scenes. But Ronald Reagen is a huge saving grace for this beermat script. If it weren't for the weird insert of this serial killer I think I would've been pretty saddened at having lost time on it. But as it is those Reagen moments are pretty funny and strange enough to sit and wait for more. If like me you have to watch this on the TV because nothing else is on and so you're stuck with it then why not, don't bother making any effort to see it though and don't blame me if you do, you were warned.
Dean !

A strange, stoner slasher produced and directed by David Arquette (Scream). It's quite a decent modern slasher, quite odd but the back story as to why this guy goes off the rails killing hippies is explained. Less so the high regard Ronald Regan is given. It's funny in… More
A strange, stoner slasher produced and directed by David Arquette (Scream). It's quite a decent modern slasher, quite odd but the back story as to why this guy goes off the rails killing hippies is explained. Less so the high regard Ronald Regan is given. It's funny in places, has a fair bit of gore, I found the tripping hallucinations a tad annoying. There is even a brief cameo from Courtney Cox-Arquette. Overall pretty good compared to many recent slasher offerings.
Curtis L

If you like seeing hippies getting axed to death by Ronald Regan, this is the movie for you. Other highlights include Courtney Cox getting killed by evil dogs, and Paul Reubens covered in outhouse crap before he gets chopped down the middle with a chainsaw.
Steve K

What an odd, odd film. Political commentary meets slasher film. A guy dressed as Ronald Reagan runs around killing hippies with an axe. Lots of good gore and such, but just a really weird vibe.
William G

Ronald Reagan hacks apart hippies in this campy slasher.
Jon O

Hippies slaughtered by a man in a Reagan mask... The film's about half as good as it sounds. Which isn't very good. The politics are about as subtle as a machete to the testicles.
John M

"The Tripper" is basically just your average slasher fare with politic It's nothing groundbreaking, but it had a lot of hilarious moments and gory kills.
Nicky M

David Arquette brings us an unscarey horror comedy that is a political satire meets slasher flick. Decent gore, T&A.. & D actually, highlight this hippie, dippie, stoner... Republican? chopfest. Heeeeeere's Ronnie!
Juny L

A decent bloody & gory slasher film from David Arquette on his directorial debut.He did a good job behind the camera so it will be interesting what else he can come up with in a near future.The dialog wasn't so good,i'm sure the movie was intended to be funny at times… More
A decent bloody & gory slasher film from David Arquette on his directorial debut.He did a good job behind the camera so it will be interesting what else he can come up with in a near future.The dialog wasn't so good,i'm sure the movie was intended to be funny at times but it didn't came through as being so funny,Arquette could've done so much with this villain wearing the Ronald Reagan mask by giving him more personality & funny lines.Besides that it was an entertaining horror film. <div style="width:710px;"><a href="http://www.flixster.com/servlet/embed/photo/link/10844362"><img src="http://www.flixster.com/servlet/embed/photo/10844362.jpg" border="0"/></a><div
Jason S

Fun horror romp in the forest! Very different and silly and fun and occasionally scary. Not a masterpiece for sure but good entertainment still.
Jason R

Traditional slasher movie but what sets this apart and makes it unique is the political undertone. Defenitley not likely to see anything like this film, great music, and actors, Jason Mewes at his best.
Patrick D

It was kinda cool, but not a great film. There were some great aspects though. Over all it wasn't too good.
Donna D

For a first time debut from David Arquette as first time director, he did a good job with this thriller chiller of main character sporting a Ronald Reagan mask and slashing all the flower hippies in the deep RED Forest. It lacked in some areas, but all in all, it wasn't that bad.
Christopher B

A litttle good and a little bad make up this watchable horror-comedy that overstays it's welcome by just a tad. Never really that funny and never really that horrifying, but for the most part entertaining. Plus, now that Thomas Jane has a handlebar mustache they can become cool… More
A litttle good and a little bad make up this watchable horror-comedy that overstays it's welcome by just a tad. Never really that funny and never really that horrifying, but for the most part entertaining. Plus, now that Thomas Jane has a handlebar mustache they can become cool and I can grow one without being mistaken as one of the Village People. Make it happen Thomas.